Monday, December 9, 2013

December 9, 2013
For some reason, I seem to attract angry people from time to time. I
suppose we all do because they are out there. When I do, I always attempt to
explain myself but as was the case yesterday, my words usually fall on deaf
ears.
My mom called me and asked me if I would take her to Fred Meyers to pick up
some prescriptions. Now let me preface this with the fact that my mom is
closing on 87 and yesterdays temperature was slightly above zero most of the
day.
So, I used Judy's car which is warmer and has heated seats and I drove over and
picked her up. We drove to Freddys talking with the radio on softly
playing peaceful Christmas music.
When I arrived, I asked her if she only needed to pick up her prescriptions and
she said that she had a couple of other things but not much. So, I made
the decision to drop her off at the door and keep the car warm for her.
Normally, I would go in with her but with the cold, I opted for her comfort
first. I told her that I would be close by where I could see her and
would pull back up and pick her up.
I hoped to find a parking spot where I could keep tabs on the door but as I
drove around the lot, I saw that was just not going to happen. Then, I
spied a guy parking along the curb waiting. I looked at the curb and it
was yellow. Now, according to the DMV, yellow curbing is for loading and
unloading and is designated primarily for commercial vehicles such as
UPS. But today was Sunday and there is generally no commercial on that
day and I figured I could keep my eyes open and if one did by chance, I could
always move on.
So, I slid behind him making sure that I was not blocking any avenues or the
front of the store. There is a side street where drivers can pick
up prescriptions from and I insured that I was not blocking that either.
Shortly, the guy in front of me picked up his passenger and I then pulled up in
his spot. I still was keeping my eyes open for an open parking spot where
I could see the door.
A van pulls along side of me and rolls down his side window. At first, I
thought it was either a friend or a customer who wanted to say hi. But
instead, I turned to find an angry man in his minivan screaming at me.
"Don't you know you are blocking traffic", he screamed. He
called me a couple of choice words while I tried to explain that I was sitting
in a yellow zone. While he yelled a car traveled the opposite direction
quite easily which should have showed him that there was plenty of room but did
not. He then flipped me off and drove angrily around the corner.
The roads were quite slippery and I hoped that he would not hit something in
his anger. I would have felt at fault since I was the one he was angry
with.
He came walking around the corner just as angry and I prepared for a
confrontation. Instead, he stopped and took a picture with his phone of
my license and yelled something else at me. I rolled down my window and
waved for him to come over and speak to me. He shook his head and walked
toward the store. I wanted to explain to him what I was doing thinking it might
make him feel better knowing that I was keeping my car warm for my 87 yr old
special passenger.
A couple of minutes later, a parking spot with view of the door opened up and I
slid into it. A couple of minutes more, he came back out, walking
around looking for me. Then I thought of the fact that my business name
was on the back of the vehicle. He probably will not be coming into my
place of business. I justified that with his anger, I probably did not
want him anyway.
Then I realized that my vehicle was actually a commercial vehicle also.
If I would have been delivering a cater, the yellow zone is just where I would
have parked as I unloaded and brought the food inside. A few years ago, I
had actually done just that and parked in that same yellow zone as we catered a
event for Freddys.
I actually thought of trying to walk over and talk with him but two things
stopped me. One was that look in his eye. He did not look
like one who was open for discussion. The other was my mom who was
walking out of the building. I quickly drove over, loaded up her things,
and took her home in a nice warm car with heated seats and soft Christmas music
playing in the background.

Friday, November 29, 2013

November 29, 2013
Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. We served around 350 seniors.
There were ups and downs and there always is but I choose to be thankful for
the ups and wish to list the highlights of the day:
So many handshakes, hugs, and kisses from grateful seniors who would have sat
in their houses in front of the TV. To watch them interact with the
volunteers and see the smiles on their faces is a priceless thing.
Our greeter was from the local TV station and did an incredible job along with
one of our regular helpers who had never organized seating before but did it
like he had done it all of his life.
In the first hour, servers along with a couple of seniors stopped and sang
"My Girl" along with the singer. Servers from the back room ran
into the front room to join in the fun. I stood next to the greeter and
said, "This is why we do this." Seniors in the crowd clapped
and sang along with all of them.
Buck and Gayle picked up Ethelene. As she came in the door, she shook her
finger at me and barked, "Don't you ever send Buck Sherwood after me
again!". I believe she meant it too.
My daughter, Trinity, giving up two days of time and a half at the airlines to
step in and reduce my stress. I am not good at organizing and she
is. She stepped in where ever I asked her to and helped reduce the
problems.
My other daughter, Carrie and grandson, Jayden who showed up to be with
us. Jay helped out in the cashier booth and was greatly
appreciated. Carrie knew I was stressed a bit and gave me constant hugs
and reminders that I was loved.
Judy showing up even though our little dog, Mia, had kept us up most of the
night prior with an upset tummy (still don't know why).
Tony and Leo from my group showing up and eating with the seniors. It was
great to see my two brothers and their presence reduced my stress just being
there.
Somewhere in the first two hours (always the most stressful as that is when the
problems usually occur), I stepped out on the floor and one of our volunteers
told me, "I am having so much fun". I had been wound tight and
that was such a release knowing that they were enjoying themselves since I had
already encountered other angry volunteers who did not deal well with our
disorganization.
Cynthia from COCOA who worked feverishly with Trinity to control the staff
problems. They agreed to stay in touch with one another before next year.
Seeing friends and customers who have become friends over the years enjoying
themselves with good food and entertainment.
Jimmy working so hard these past few days to insure that the food quality was
top notch and to insure that the left over food was delivered to the police
station so that officers who had to work so that others could enjoy their day
could have some holiday cheer when they took their break.
Ed's tap dancing. I saw a couple of seniors grab their cameras so they
could take his picture while he danced.
Being able to jump in and sing the chorus of a song that I knew with Roy and
the resounding whoops and claps afterward.
Richard once again handling the pie station. It is so comforting to know
that I can count on him every year there.
The various venders who helped out including Sysco, FSA, Franz, and Farmers
Coffee. And local dairy, Eberhard providing the ice cream so that the
pies became pie alamode.
All of the various volunteers and entertainers who took a big hunk of their
holiday to become family to the many who showed up. Love isn't Love
(til you give it away). Reba McIntire and Michael W Smith amongst others.
The people who donated money on the week before to pay for peoples meals on
Thanksgiving that they did not know.
And last but certainly not least, Barb, Sterling, Bob Gordon and his wife (she
did all the vacuuming), and JW and his family for sticking around afterwards
and helping clean up the mess and reset so that we can go on with business on
Friday. If you guys had not shown up, I would probably still be down
there.
I was so exhausted afterwards that I fell asleep the second my head hit the
pillow (something that does not happen often with me) and slept until an hour
or so ago when I knew I had to get up and write this all down before I forgot
it.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

November 13, 2013
I don't remember the day that I met Bob Falley. It seems as if I have
always known him. Big guy (no overweight....strong) with always a smile
on his face. He always looked happy and his words spoke the same.
I would often see him and Dorris walking in the neighborhood behind our
building and loved stopping to talk with them. Their love for each other
and for others just seemed to glow from them like a beacon. Their love of
God filled them so full. It reminds me of a song that I sang in my youth
in church. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.....theirs
shown brightly.
I saw them just a couple of weeks ago. They had stopped to rest behind
the diner. Judy and I walked over and chatted with them for a bit as they
rested. It is a memory that I will always cherish as it was the last time
that I saw Bob.
Last Tuesday, I returned to the diner after stopping to see John Spence and
finding him gone. Mary told me that she was told that Bob had passed
on. I said, "you must be thinking of John.". She said,
"No, Bob. They guy who always walks behind us with his
walker". I called the office to hear the news. Bob had fallen
asleep in his chair and not woken up.
I called the house and talked with Doris's sister. Then Judy and I went
over to the house taking with us a copy of Bob's Band of Brothers story and the
video of his encounter with the Oregon Ducks. While we were friends, it
was those two items that had brought us the closest.
I recall it well. I had just had discussions with the director of
football at Oregon where he agreed to open up a spring practice to WW2 vets as
an inspiration to their players. I saw Bob and Doris walking. I
pulled up alongside of them in the car and rolled down the window. I
asked Bob if he liked football. He said yes. I asked him if he
liked the Ducks. He said yes. I asked him if he would like to go
see them. He said, 'go see them play?". I said,
"Would you like to meet them?". He stopped and looked over at
me and said, "Would I?!". He was one of the most excited men
that we took with us.
I still remember him speaking to the Ducks on their knee in the middle of the
field after he was introduced. He smiled and waved. Then he thanked
them for letting him come. "Boy, do I have something to tell my kids
and grandkids today!", he said.
So, when the Ducks offered to video two of the guys during the spring game,
one of them in my head was Bob. I called him on the phone on the way home
that day. I asked him if he were going to the spring game with us.
He said that the practice had beaten him up a bit and that he would probably
not be going. I then told him of the video. He said that it sounded
like fun but he was still unsure. I told him to think about it and talk
it over with Doris. I said I could give him 5 minutes before I would move
on to the next vet.
Twenty minutes later, I got the call back..."Are my 5 minutes
up?". A few minutes later he called again, "Can Doris
go?". He and the other vet, Jack Cooper, were the perfect men to go.
The video is on youtube and goducks.com. It is called "Through their
eyes". My daughter, Trinity videoed at Jake's and on the way over
with one of the Ducks cameras and then we met two videographers at the
game. We had to find seats at the game and my buddy Frank was able
to get some for us but they were at the top of a tall set of steps. I
walked with Bob up the steps and showed him their seats. "This is
great", he said, "But I have to pee!". The level just a
step above us was shut down. So, we had to walk all the way back down
those steps. Then all the way back up. I knew Bob's knees and hips
were bothering him and I was glad when we got back up to the seats. There
is a part in the middle of the video where Bob is speaking in front of a grey
brick wall and telling how grateful that he is. It was just after he had
gotten out of the bathroom so it will always remind me of that part of the
event and story. Bob glowed that day and it is evident in the video.
Judy got to take Bob and Doris over and back from the game. She said they
sang all the way over and all the way back. It was when I learned of
Bob's love for singing. I guess he was known for standing up in church
and belting out a song. That trip drew Judy into the couple even deeper.
So, when I found out that Tuesday, I didn't go out with my vet buddies as I do
most Tuesdays but I waited for her at Jake's as I knew the word of Bob's
passing would be like a second barrel of a shotgun to her. She loved both
of those men so dearly.
We had Bob's service on Thursday. I was granted the honor of speaking his
story that he and I had worked on earlier in the year and I was honored to
present to the guys at one of the meetings. The day before, the pastor at
the church called me to let me know that I needed to change a couple of words
in the story. I said that I was aware and that I could change fart to
flatulence and asshole to ahole.
I sat in the front row of the church praying and preparing to present the story
of this close friend. I realized that I had not changed the words in the
story and that I did not have a pen. I found a couple of friends a few
rows behind me and asked them for a pen. One of them gave me a pen from
her purse. I had misspoken the word flatulence earlier when talking to
Judy so as I wrote it out, I asked her if I was pronouncing it right.
They all laughed and she said, "I can't wait to hear this
story!". As I sat back down, she yelled up for effect,
"Remember, it's flatulence, Lyle!" I thought I had done well
until I ran into the same lady at supper last evening. I asked her how
the story sounded to her. She said it sounded great....except I slipped
up and said fart instead. We all had a good laugh when I said,
"Maybe that is why the pastor didn't speak to me afterward.".
As I rose and entered the stage to present the story, visions of my friend
flashed in front of me. All of a sudden the grief from the loss hit me
like a truck. The tears welled and I began to choke up. I took a
deep breath and prayed while the pastor introduced me. I barely heard his
words and all of a sudden I was up there in front of the crowd with the mic in
my hand. A calm washed over me as I looked down at the smiling face of
Doris. This is the story that I presented:
￼
I was born on May 8th, 1925 at home on a dairy farm in Topeka, Kansas. My
father worked on the farm. Later he began selling fruits and
vegetables. I remember that he sold lots of watermelons. They were
large melons and he sliced them in fourths. 10cents a slice. The summers
got into the 100’s so dad sold tons.
He also had a Nehi pop route to other towns and he would take me with
him. I would drink up the profits. I would sleep on the floor boards
and dad on the seats.
In 32, we moved to a farm west of Topeka. 25 acres of garden farm.
Radishes, turnips, green onions, beets, carrots, parsnips, lettuce, tomatoes
plus much more. We were poor but I never knew it. Always had food
galore, apple pies, and plenty of cow’s thick cream.
Played football all four years of high school. I was a 225# fullback.
Made all state. Ran track also but spring was garden time so I could only
practice 15 minutes a day. I threw discus and shot put. I actually
won most of my meets.
I met Doris in my senior year of high school. We just hit it off 4-0
right away. Of course that cute 110# blond came to every one of my
football games. But when I shipped out to the Navy, I had thought it
better for Doris and I to get married when I came home. She didn’t feel
the same and we were hitched August 9, 1943.…70 years later, she was definitely
the right one!
Graduated in 43 and went right into the Navy. Spent boot camp in
Farragut, Idaho and then on to diesel school in Ames, Iowa. Went to PT
boat training in Rhode Island and then shipped out of Treasure Island to New
Guinea.
I was attached to PT boat 332 out of the Philippines and ended up on the Island
of Zamboanga. My duty was the engine room and three 1500 cubic inch, 12
cylinder Packard engines. There was dual exhausts on each and they
sounded so sweet. She could do 52 knots at top speed (60mph). Not
bad for a 20x80 all wood boat.
A bunch of us guys were sitting around one day and we were discussing the
properties of the gas that comes from a fart. Well, one of the guys was
willing to be a guinea pig. He bent over and let one go right over a
lighter. Wow, it ignited just like a torch….lit that guys butt right
up. There were belly laughs all around….except for one guy.
We ended up in a convoy that headed to Okinawa. Three days of Bombers,
Kamakazies, and Torpedo Bombers that flew just feet off of the water. We
lost several ships and we saw no survivors. My GQ station was passing
ammo to the 40mm cannon on our stern. We counted 52 bullet holes in the
ship after the battle. Since the torpedo planes flew amongst the ships
and all were firing on them, many of the holes were from friendly fire.
Pete, our torpedo man was laying on the deck next to the torpedo during one of
the fire fights. “Pete”, I yelled over at him, “What are you
doing?“ “Getting away from bullets!“ he yelled back. “What about
that 300# of TNT in that torpedo next to your head!?”. Pete moved.
We hooked up a magneto to our skippers chair in the topside cockpit. Mr
Eggley sat down and we spun the magneto. He came off of that seat pronto
shocked but then started smiling when he realized the prank. We had
actually set it up for Frank…our ninety day wonder. Well, Frank finally
got his turn and Wow….was he mad! “I’m putting you all on report!”, he
yelled. The skipper came to our rescue as he calmly spoke to Frank, “Not
as long as I am Captain.”. Frank was transferred two days later. We
all said good riddance because he was…..an asshole.
I had enough points for discharge but my rate was frozen so they placed me on a
mine sweep. I talked to the Captain and he signed my discharge. I
never unpacked. Went back to the states on a baby flat
top. It was huge. Golden Gate, Treasure Island, Norman, Oklahoma,
and then home. I was so happy.
In 46, we moved out to Eugene, Oregon in the back of a covered dump
truck. Kind of like a covered wagon of sorts. Went right to work
hauling gravel. I worked all over down in Southern Oregon.
The greatest event in my life happened in Days Creek in 49. Dorris and I
were saved at our house. Jean Brown introduced Doris to Jesus and she
introduced him to me. I have never been the same since. All my customers
at the truck service station asked me what happened to me. I told
them and I have never stopped talking about it since.
From there we moved to Portland and I ended up working 35 years in the
insurance sales field. 10 in Portland and 25 in Bend. Dorris and I
have raised four kids and love our lives. I believe our secret is our
love of God.
I am Petty Office Second Class Robert Eugene Falley (yup, another Bob) and a
proud servant of God
I ran into some of his family this last weekend. I gave them pictures of
Bob from the day that he had visited the Ducks. I did not realize until
that day that I had pictures of him shaking hands with Marcus Mariota and Josh
Huff. And, there was a special one of him speaking to the Ducks on their
knee in the middle of the field. We talked of how excited he was that
day. They said that he had called them all and told them when he got
home.
I still remember something that the pastor stated when talking at the
service. He said, "This is one service where no one has to lie.
Usually in a service for someone, we sometimes have to build up a story or
two....but not Bob".
I will dearly miss Bob. Judy and I both agreed....there is surely more
singing going on in Heaven today.
Judy took this picture of the sunset the day that Bob passed on.
This little light of mine....I'm gonna let it shine.....it was as if Bob's
light was still shining.